Coming soon: Drunken Dragon to descend upon Hallandale Beach; Wiseguy Pizza to bring ‘old-school’ methods to Las Olas

When it comes to food, South Florida is a great place to be. So many new restaurants open nearly every day. Here’s what’s coming soon to a city near you.

Drunken Dragon, Hallandale Beach601 N. Federal Highway; DrunkenDragon.com

What happens when a Korean barbecue spot touting tiki-themed cocktails, Asian tapas and DIY grilling uproots from flashy Miami Beach? In Hallandale Beach, at least, enter the Drunken Dragon. The restaurant called it quits after 10 years on Alton Road with a Dec. 31 farewell party ahead of a planned late-2024 opening at Atlantic Village, a sprawling live-shopping complex. The move from cofounder Angel Febres and his Homecookin’ Hospitality Group (Rácket in Wynwood, Foxhole in Miami Beach) has been in the works since 2021. Drunken Dragon’s new 300-seat eatery is a rebranding of the barbecue house into what it calls a “craft-cocktail supper club,” with 37 communal grilling tables, a “Dragon Lounge” and live entertainment.

Yolk, Boynton Beach9884 S. Jog Road, Suite D9; eatyolk.com

When this location opens in February, the number of Yolk eateries will increase to 18 nationwide — spanning across South Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Texas. The other two SoFlo locations are in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. The new Boynton Beach venue will measure 2,900 square feet and seat 90 people inside and 72 on a patio designed with Yolk’s signature yellow umbrellas for shade. Touting a menu it describes as “constantly pushing the envelope with new and creative brunch dishes served in urban, upscale settings,” the eatery will be serving various french toast and eggs Benedict dishes as well as items such as Breakfast Mac & Cheese and Santa Fe Frittata. That’s in addition to gourmet five-egg rolled omelets, signature scramblers, pancakes, crepes, build-your-own options, burgers, sandwiches, coffees, lattes, craft beers, wines and cocktails. The brand has a test kitchen program to come up with foodie-forward culinary options.

Jerk and Lime at Nicole’s House, Delray Beach182 NW Fifth Ave.; Instagram.com/nicoles_house_/

Owner Nicole Myers’ long-in-the-works Caribbean restaurant plans to open a slight jog west of downtown Delray Beach, a block north of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, sometime this February, the restaurant’s Instagram confirms. Myers, originally from St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, is cooking up a menu that will include braised oxtail with plantains and rice and pea cabbage, stew fish, fried lobster tail with jumbo shrimp, fried catfish, pepper steak with mashed potatoes, and jerk chicken with garden fruit salad.

Celis Juice Bar, Delray Beach335 E. Linton Blvd., Suite B-12; celisjuicebar.com

This health-conscious eatery (make sure you check out their running club) will open its newest location in May, joining the original brick-and-mortar in West Palm Beach that opened in 2015 and the Palm Beach venue that followed a couple of years later. The quick-service restaurant offers fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls and made-to-order breakfast and lunch. The boutique-chain is owned by the Celis brothers — Alex, Camilo and Felipe — and Taki Kastanis, who is also CEO of Yolk restaurants.

Juliana’s Pizza, West Palm Beach905 N. Railroad Ave., West Palm Beach; JulianasPizza.com

For most pizza lovers, the arrival of Juliana’s to West Palm Beach’s rising NORA district heralds yet another New York-born pie shop sowing new roots in South Florida. But to folks fascinated with the Empire State’s very long and winding pizza wars saga, Juliana’s represents a slice of Big Apple royalty. The short version: Juliana’s was founded by restaurateur Patsy Grimaldi, who at various times ran Patsy’s and Grimaldi’s and traces his bona fides back to the original Lombardi’s, and has been selling pies in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood since 1990. (Juliana’s is named after Grimaldi’s late mother.) The history gets more convoluted from there, but Juliana’s has racked up countless accolades, topping best-pizzeria lists from TripAdvisor and USA Today to Cosmopolitan. The man most directly responsible for its South Florida expansion is cofounder Matthew Grogan, an ex-Wall Street executive and current Palm Beacher, who will bring Juliana’s menu of coal-fired pies with thin, crackerlike crusts, egg creams, meatballs and seltzer to West Palm in early 2025.

Wiseguy Pizza Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale401 E. Las Olas Blvd.; wiseguypizza.com

This concept is part of the stable of brands under the Thompson Restaurants group, which includes Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Matchbox at the busy-buzzy enclave of Las Olas Riverfront Circle. Wiseguy Pizza is expected to join the booming dining scene in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s business district at the Bank of America Financial Center in the first quarter of 2024, between January and March. The fast-casual eatery bills itself as “old-school,” cooking pizza on a stone deck oven (no pizza screens; your pizza bakes directly on the stones). The cheese comes from Wisconsin. The tomato sauce comes from California. The extra virgin olive oil and parmigiano-reggiano are from Italy. The sauces and dressings are made in-house. Along with the classics, Wiseguy Pizza will have a rotating menu of specials including vegan and vegetarian pies, as well as Korean Chicken, Paneer Tikka and Mushroom Truffle. It will also have a cauliflower gluten-free pie.

Playa Bowls, Fort Lauderdale401 E. Las Olas Blvd, Unit 185; playabowls.com

There’s a beach vibe with this fast-casual restaurant. After all, the concept started back in 2014 as pop-up food stand on the Jersey Shore. Now the brand is known for its plant-based ingredients, especially fruit. They’re also known for being serious about sustainability and say they use reclaimed building materials, LED lighting and recycled/biodegradable bowls, spoons and lids, as well as set up partnerships with local recycling efforts. This location is owned by Darrell Casoria (raised in Fort Lauderdale) and Ricky Arguello and is expected to open in January. Before that, they’re planning to have VIP and soft launches; follow Instagram.com/playabowlslasolas for details and send a direct message to get invited.

Bellagamba’s Fine Italian Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale501 SE Second St., Suite 101; bellagambas.com

The website for this new Italian restaurant states: “COMING SOON FEBRUARY ’24.” The space at the Camden Las Olas Apartments in downtown Fort Lauderdale was formerly Rice & Dough Restaurant and Wine Bar. The menu at Bellgamba’s is expected to reflect authenticity, with the website asking: “Are you ready to experience Real Italian Food?”

X-Golf, West Palm Beach1900 Okeechobee Blvd.; PlayXGolf.com

Another week, another indoor-golf experience is teeing off in South Florida, and this franchise expects to open its first Florida location in spring 2024. The 10,000-square-foot space, owned by franchisee brothers Steve and David Kittrell, will feature nine golf simulator bays and a 30-seat wraparound bar with eight TVs and a pub-friendly menu of pizza, wings, pretzels and libations. As with other X-Golf locations around the country, the venue has hired a “PGA-certified professional” to help visitors improve their indoor-golf game.

The Underground Pizza, Palm Beach Gardens9920 FL-A1A, Suite 815; 561-254-4410, TheUndergroundPizza.com

No, it shouldn’t be confused with The Pizza Underground, a short-lived comedy band created by “Home Alone” actor Macaulay Culkin to parody the Velvet Underground’s songs with pizza-themed lyrics. But The Underground Pizza does bill itself as a “punk rock pizza shop” inspired by that 1960s rock band — and its debut is expected in January in the Promenade Shopping Plaza. The pizzeria, from owner Cole Herring, specializes in something called “East Coast Deep Dish,” a hybrid pie that resembles Chicago deep dish but has a cornmeal crust and other recipe variations. There are also thin-crust pizzas such as The Blonde (garlic-infused olive oil, roasted squash, tomatoes, onions, feta, basil) and Lay’d Back (pineapple, bacon, red onion, jalapeños, feta), plus salads, baked wings and garlic bread.

Ya Mas! Taverna, West Palm Beach216 Clematis St.; YaMasTaverna.com

After hospitality honcho and “Big Brother” star Memphis Garrett (No Man’s Land, Point Break) brought his first Greek restaurant to tony Las Olas Boulevard (which abruptly closed in November), Ya Mas! expects to open its first sister taverna on West Palm Beach’s bustling Clematis Street restaurant row sometime in early 2024. The new Ya Mas! will dish an identical menu of modern and classic fare, such as dolmades and muhammara, bechamel short rib, and loukaniko with melted leek and pepperoncini.

Black Jack’s Rum Bar & Grille, Davie3890 Davie Road, Suite 104; BlackJacksRumBar.com

The restaurateur behind the Drunken Taco chain and the late Giovanni’s Coal Fire Pizza is back with this American pub that’s expected to debut in early spring on the ground floor of the new Zona Village apartment complex, across the street from Nova Southeastern University. The 200-seat pub from owner Ted Sabarese will have a full bar along with hamburgers and steaks, although its menu hasn’t been finalized.

Whaler’s Catch, Fort Lauderdale905 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.; WhalersCatchftl.com

Yet another restaurant under the umbrella of onetime “Big Brother” star and restaurateur Memphis Garrett, this seafood kitchen and oyster bar plans to debut in early 2024 on Fort Lauderdale Beach, near the Parrot Lounge and Primanti Bros. The docking of Whaler’s Catch follows a recent pair of closings from Garrett Hospitality Group, including Ya Mas! Taverna on Las Olas Boulevard (website says it is relocating) and the short-lived Point Break, which debuted in February.

The Kebab Shop, Miramar11225 Miramar Parkway; TheKebabShop.com

This California-based Mediterranean eatery specializes in customizable kebabs in grilled and rotisserie forms, and served in a wrap, in a box or on a plate. It’s scheduled to open this winter inside the Miramar Park Place strip mall on Red Road, joining a recently opened Flanigan’s and a soon-to-open Duck Donuts. The menu also has lamb, beef, chicken thighs, saffron chicken tenderloin doner, along with steak and falafel and “crave fries” (topped with feta, garlic yogurt and pickled onions). The chain has carved out 34 other locations in California and Texas, with future South Florida outposts also heading to Coral Springs (1280 N. University Drive) and Boynton Beach (1780 N. Congress Ave., Suite 200).

Tutto Mare, Palm Beach

This Mediterranean concept from the Tutto il Giorno restaurant group is being billed as the first Intracoastal waterfront restaurant in Palm Beach. The eatery on the style isle is expected to open next winter at The Royal Poinciana Plaza and is owned by Gabby and Gianpaolo de Felice, the wife-and-husband dining duo behind Tutto il Giorno in Southampton, East Hampton and Sag Harbor, New York. “Our goal with Tutto Mare is to create something chic, comfortable and intimate, balancing architecture with decor and ambiance,” she says. “Tutto Mare will be a place for the community to gather in a fresh environment, while celebrating Palm Beach’s rich history.” 340 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach

Field of Greens, West Palm Beach777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 108; ilovefog.com

This will be the fifth Field of Greens in Palm Beach County, joining four others in Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Wellington. The locally-based brand is owned by Hess Musallet and Myron “Mosie” Miller. This latest iteration of the fine-casual eatery — with a menu centered on salads, wraps, sandwiches, vegan dishes, acai bowls, smoothies and more — intends to open at Phillips Point office building in January, joining a slate of other restaurants that have raced to open in the Flagler Financial District (Harry’s, Adrienne’s Pizzabar, Felice and next year’s Estiatorio Milos). “As we continue to expand in Palm Beach County, this location is special as we are able to serve fresh, health-conscious cuisine to downtown West Palm Beach’s growing business community,” Musallet says.

Earls Kitchen + Bar, Fort Lauderdale1002 E. Las Olas Blvd.; earls.ca

The Broward County location (the other is in Dadeland Mall) plans to open on Las Olas Boulevard next winter. The hard-to-categorize menu created by chef David Wong has a global vibe with tacos, sushi, Cajun chicken, burgers, plant-based dishes, pizza, seafood, steaks and a host of weekend brunch classics. The brand started in 1982 with its first restaurant in Edmonton, Alberta, and is now based in Vancouver. “We are incredibly excited to introduce Earls Kitchen + Bar to the vibrant community of Fort Lauderdale,” says Kristin Vekteris, chief brand officer.

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, Parkland7609 N. State Road 7; Kekes.com

This 17-year-old, Orlando-born, breakfast-lunch franchise does cheesesteak omelets and portabella paninis with roasted red pepper, but longtime fans know its pancakes sweeten the menu most. The plan is for Keke’s to debut its fourth South Florida outpost (joining Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Wellington) in early 2024, with a fifth heading soon to Delray Beach (5032 W. Atlantic Ave.). Along with banana-pecan pancakes and apple-cinnamon-stuffed french toast, there are burgers, salads and chicken Caesar wraps, plus mimosas, bellinis and sangria cocktails.

Limani Grille, Boca Raton6000 Glades Road; simon.com/mall

This seafood-focused eatery inside Town Center at Boca Raton promises Mediterranean dishes with a focus on Greek cuisines when it opens next spring. This will be the third location for the brand, which can also be found in Commack, N.Y., and Boston.

Madame Tang’s, Boca Raton6000 Glades Road; simon.com/mall

Celebrity chef Ralph Pagano and Jay Shirodkar have created Madame Tang’s to offer what they promise will be a new, modern take on Chinese cuisine and other Asian favorites. The restaurant inside Town Center at Boca Raton mall is expected to open in February, according to the website. Early word is that the bar will also have an expansive program. Fans of TV cooking competitions know Pagano for his turns on “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Pressure Cook” and “Iron Chef,” but local foodies know him for his Naked brand: Naked Taco and Naked Crab, which have multiple locations throughout South Florida.

Luna Rosa Sandwiches, Delray Beach1214 E. Atlantic Ave.

It’s been months since owner David Hunt closed the beloved Sandwiches by the Sea, his nautically themed port-of-call for handhelds a block from the ocean, after 22 years in business. In its place will rise this new sandwicherie from another Delray Beach veteran, Fran Marincola, who has operated casual Italian eatery Caffe Luna Rosa around the corner since 1993. Opening later this winter, the shop is registered to Maricola and business partner Kim Thomas. No menu or website is yet available, but the eatery is expected to offer some of the fresh-baked breads already served at Caffe Luna Rosa.

Serious Dumplings, Plantation7626 Peters Road, Plantation; SeriousDumplingsUSA.com

Replacing the former “fast-fine” restaurant Ovlo Eats, which shuttered last year, is the fourth South Florida location of this dumpling franchise. Registered to franchisee Yang Ruyun, the shop expects to debut this winter in the Plantation Commons strip mall. The restaurant will specialize in dumplings of every ilk — xiaolongbao, pan-fried and steamed — along with noodle and rice bowls, scallion pancakes and squid salad, and dim sum from shrimp siu mai to braised chicken feet. The restaurant joins outposts in Boca Raton (which debuted in May), North Miami and Davie.

B&D Trap, Fort Lauderdale1551 NW Sixth St.; 561-382-7944; BDTrap.com

This 2,500-square-foot pit stop devoted to Texas-style barbecue will smoke up Sistrunk Boulevard sometime in early 2024. The focus, of course, will be brisket by the pound and in sandwich form from hospitality veteran Kevin Rodriguez (The Doral Yard food hall) and pitmaster Orelle Young (The Beast by Todd English in Las Vegas), who competed earlier this year on Food Network Canada’s barbecue competition series “Fire Masters.” The 45-seat counter will also turn out ribs, chicken, pulled pork and turkey, along with sides of mac ‘n’ cheese, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread.